Ask your cooperating teacher about their class policies. How do they introduce their policies and enforce them throughout the year? Does he or she begin the year going over basic skills, e.g. measurement, or do they begin the year with course topics? Obtain a copy of any handouts about policies or safety from the first week of class.
Observation
I met with Beth, my cooperating teacher on Wednesday. I got to school before she had her first class so that she and I could chat for a little bit about what I wanted to accomplish and what her classroom environment was like. Beth is on the Black Knights team at Exeter-West Greenwich Junior High and teaches grade 7 general science.
We discussed her classes, grading and behavioral management plan. Classroom rules are discussed in the beginning of the semester and are also located on her website. Students are expected to follow these rules and at any time can be grade on them. Beth's grading policy is based on quizzes, tests, projects, lab reports/notebooks, and daily work. This daily work section constitutes 40% of the students grade and includes participation, completing classwork and homework, as well as following the rules indicated at the beginning of class. Exter-West Greenwich utilizes the PBIS method of classroom management. A ticket can be given to a student who is showing improvement, participating well, being very helpful, or just displaying positive behaviors.
Organization is another thing I noticed in the class. Each student is required to have the same materials: a trapper keeper, a green 3 subject notebook for science, a black folder for homework, a green folder for science work that has been graded. This standardization of organization is to help the student gain these crucial skills before proceeding to the high school.
Reflection
What struck me the most about the middle school was its emphasis on behavior management and organization. Because these students were middle school students, a focus on developing skills is just as important as the focus on the content themselves. I like the PBIS method of rewarding good behavior and demonstrating positive reinforcement. It's something that I have heard of but never really learned much about.
I really liked the organization of the classroom. Everyone knew where to be. There was also a to-do list on the board which kept students occupied while the teacher was getting the class organized for the lesson.
Observation
I met with Beth, my cooperating teacher on Wednesday. I got to school before she had her first class so that she and I could chat for a little bit about what I wanted to accomplish and what her classroom environment was like. Beth is on the Black Knights team at Exeter-West Greenwich Junior High and teaches grade 7 general science.
We discussed her classes, grading and behavioral management plan. Classroom rules are discussed in the beginning of the semester and are also located on her website. Students are expected to follow these rules and at any time can be grade on them. Beth's grading policy is based on quizzes, tests, projects, lab reports/notebooks, and daily work. This daily work section constitutes 40% of the students grade and includes participation, completing classwork and homework, as well as following the rules indicated at the beginning of class. Exter-West Greenwich utilizes the PBIS method of classroom management. A ticket can be given to a student who is showing improvement, participating well, being very helpful, or just displaying positive behaviors.
Organization is another thing I noticed in the class. Each student is required to have the same materials: a trapper keeper, a green 3 subject notebook for science, a black folder for homework, a green folder for science work that has been graded. This standardization of organization is to help the student gain these crucial skills before proceeding to the high school.
Reflection
What struck me the most about the middle school was its emphasis on behavior management and organization. Because these students were middle school students, a focus on developing skills is just as important as the focus on the content themselves. I like the PBIS method of rewarding good behavior and demonstrating positive reinforcement. It's something that I have heard of but never really learned much about.
I really liked the organization of the classroom. Everyone knew where to be. There was also a to-do list on the board which kept students occupied while the teacher was getting the class organized for the lesson.